Bitis albanica
(Hewett, 1937)
Formerly considered a subspecies of Bitis cornuta or placed
in the "Bitis inornata complex."
Bitis
arietans (Merrem,
1820)
A large and stocky
adder found throughout
much of sub-Saharan
Africa. This snake
is responsible for
many serious snakebite
cases in many areas
of its range.
Bitis
armata (Branch, 1999)
Found in the Republic
of South Africa (SW
Cape, from Langebaan
National Park to De
Hoop Nature Reserve).
Bitis atropos
(Linnaeus, 1758)
A small viper from cooler climates in southern Africa.
Its venom has, unlike most viperid venom, a major neurotoxin
that affects the eyes and other sensory functions and
is not neutralized by existing antivenin.
Bitis caudalis
(Smith, 1839)
A highly variable and stocky sidewinding adder from the
deserts of southwestern Africa.
Bitis cornuta
(Daudin, 1803)
A small viper that inhabits rocky areas along the western
coast of the southern tip of Africa. May have as many
as seven horns above each eye.
Bitis gabonica
(Duméril, Bibron, and Duméril, 1854)
The largest African viper, this snake has a striking coloration
and pattern that nevertheless offers it camouflage. Specimens
may exceed 6 feet (2 m) and 15 pounds (6.8 kg). The fangs
of a large adult may exceed two inches (5 cm) in length.
Bitis heraldica
(Bocage, 1889)
An exceptionally rare viper known from only a few localities
in central Angola.
Bitis inornata
(Smith, 1838)
A small heavy bodied montane viper that is found only
in two populations in Cape Province, South Africa.
Bitis nasicornis
(Shaw, 1792)
A large heavy bodied viper with a prominent nasal horns
that inhabits the forests of equatorial Africa. Its beautiful
color and pattern is as striking as that of any snake,
but in its environment the color and pattern are disruptive
and render these vipers essentially invisible on the forest
floor.
Bitis parviocula
Böhme, 1977
A virtually unknown viper with small populations in Ethiopia.
Bitis peringueyi
(Boulenger, 1888)
A very small orangish adder from the Namib desert with
eyes set high on the head.
Bitis rubida
Branch, 1997
Described in 1997, this Western Cape Province species
is sympatric with Bitis cornuta
and Bitis atropos on the
upper slopes and summit of the Cedarberg, and with the
latter on the Swartberg.
Bitis schneideri
(Boettger, 1886)
The smallest adder in the world, it rarely exceeds eight
inches (20 cm).
Bitis worthingtoni
Parker, 1932
A small viper with a single horn from high altitudes along
the high central rift valley in Kenya.
Bitis xerophaga
Haacke, 1975
A small adder that lives in rocky hillsides and mountains
in a small area of southern Africa.
Cerastes cerastes (Linnaeus,
1758)
Cerastes gasperettii
Leviton and Anderson, 1967
Cerastes vipera
(Linnaeus, 1758)
These small and stout desert vipers
are widespread throughout Saharan Africa, with the exception
of the Arabian species which is not found in Africa proper,
but does occur on the Sinai peninsula. A similar genus,
also from the Sinai peninsula and the Middle East, is
the False Horned Viper, Pseudocerastes.
Echis coloratus
Günther, 1878
Echis leucogaster
Roman, 1972
Echis ocellatus
Stemmler, 1970
Echis pyramidum
(Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1827)
These small vipers are found in many parts
of the Old World from Africa to India. They are very dangerous
snakes due to their virulent venom, irascible dispostion,
and relative abundance in parts of their expansive range.
When disturbed these snakes rub the scales of their C-shaped
coils together making a distinctive hissing sound, often
striking repeatedly.
The taxonomy of this genus is in
flux and some newer problematic species* have been described.
The COMMON SAW-SCALED VIPER from the Middle East
east to India is Echis
carinatus (Schneider,
1801).
* Echis
hughesi, E.
jogeri, and E.
megalocephalus [all Cherlin,
1990].
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Saw Scaled Viper Page
